Jul 06 - Forgetfulness: Non-Total Recall****

Thursday, July 6, 1972 - Page 188
LOCATION: Bethlehem, South Dakota

REMEMBERING MOVIES ABOUT MEMORIES

We are the sum total of all our experiences. Our personal memories make us unique human beings -- but in the long run, what will you really remember about your life?

In this journal I faithfully recorded numerous movies I saw in 1972. I can hardly remember any of them today. How about you? What movies will endure in your memory after 40 years? How many of your experiences will permanently stick with you?

RECALLING TWO TOTAL RECALLS -- WHAT WILL YOU RETAIN?

MEMORIES FOR SALE
Here's an interesting case study. We have two movies titled "Total Recall" that explore the impact of Real versus False memories.

The original film was made in 1990 starring Arnold Schwarzenegger & Sharon Stone. The second version, a remake from 2012, starred Colin Farrell & Kate Beckinsale. Have you seen them?

To avoid spoilers, I advise you to pass over this section now... But for those who have caught both versions, let's investigate your future recollections. Here are some scenes that you might be able to retain over the years…

"REKALL" INJECTS A FAKE MEMORY THAT TURNS OUT TO BE TRUE

Doug Quaid tries to spice up his dull life by going to REKALL to have an exciting false vacation implanted in his mind. The treatment conflicts with a suppressed memory (he's really a rogue secret agent) that propels him into a fight for his life.

QUAID'S WIFE IS REALLY A DEADLY IMPOSTER

Later, Quaid finds out that his lovely wife Lori is actually an evil agent. When she learns that REKALL has exposed his blocked memories, she vigorously tries to kill him, but Quaid overcomes her attack and forces her to admit the truth. 

REMOVING THE TRACKING DEVICE

While running from the Bad Guys, our hero learns that he must remove tracking hardware from his body. In the 1990 edition, Quaid pulls out a "bug" from his nasal cavity. In the 2012 remake, he needs to extract a subcutaneous mobile phone from inside his right hand.

WHAT WILL YOU TOTALLY RECALL?

Think about it… How does your memory actually work? What sticks and what doesn't? When these films fade into the ancient history of your life, what images will survive to prove that you've actually seen these movies?

THE MOST LIKELY PROBABILITY...

Based on promotional interviews, online feedback and various articles regarding these films, I can guess what will ultimately be retained by most people when they are asked, "Did you ever see Total Recall?"

Probably the most memorable long-term images from these movies are presented at the bottom of this entry. Check it out...

But first, here is today's entry from 1972:
(5:00 PM 7/9/1972)
Thursday is too far removed from my memory, so unfortunately I must bow to the ravages of time and admit I forgot what transpired this day.

However, I do remember that Bruce, Clint and I were laying forms for the side walk at the driveway. But we blew it and Gil decided Pearce should do the forms from now on. Several more games of chess were played and I continued to beat Bruce. That's all I can recall. ---

[Actually, this appears to be an abbreviated recollection of events that occurred on the previous day, July 5, which underscores this entry's theme of the faultiness of memory]

(The moldy piece of paper attached to this page was found in the cave when Me, Tom S., Greg & Jim went crawling. It bears the combination to the cave, and I thought I should save it, and I just got around to putting it in now... "Now" is about a month hence: 1:15 P.M., August 4, 1972. I'm in Ken's room in Chicago, Ill.)

Secret combination revealed here for the first time

Back to TOTAL RECALL -- What will finally stick in your mind?

Is this what most of us will remember after decades of forgetting everything else? Are these the only images that will persist from Total Recall 40 years from now? Probably.

TOMORROW: Darlene, horses & an unfortunate allergy

Jul 05 - The Wrath of Gilbert

Wednesday, July 5, 1972 - 187
LOCATION: Bethlehem, South Dakota

(8:30 AM 7/6/1972)
Today we worked on the side walk that's going from the house to the reception center. That's a long way and it'll take a lot of work. I helped with the forms, unloaded cement & sand, cleared the trash away from behind the Shrine, and helped lay cement. We've been evicted from the retreat house, and we now reside in the Abbott's Cabin -- Bruce & I are in the top bunks (there are two pair in the room), and Jim and John are in the bottom bunks. In the other room of the Abbott's cabin are Jeff, Greg, and Tom & Tom -- maybe more. Clint is now in the print shop -- they have three beds in there.

There was a bit of a crisis during the laying of the cement -- Gil came out and noticed the mixture for the cement was wrong, and a bit of his wrath came out -- most of it directed to John, who had been finishing one section of cement. Tom got P.O.'d at Gil blowing up at John, since he's sensitive and vulnerable anyway, and Bruce began to get mad too. Tom talked to Gil, then Bruce did -- I continued working on the cement so I wasn't aware of what transpired, but the situation is resolved it seems.

Father Gilbert, with Tom H. and M.R. (Mrs. Rogers)
on the left, Sister Elizabeth on the right

We worked till 4:30, then Me, Bruce & John walked down to a swimming hole Tom S. had found, it being a sunny day. Down in the swimming hole there was no sun, and the water was freezing, but we swam anyway. I was the first to stay in for any length of time over my head -- the others followed later. We returned, and ate dinner after which I beat Bruce in another game of chess. Tom, Greg, and Jim went cave crawling, and I went with them. We got out at 10:30, and by 11:00 everyone was in bed. The end. ---

TOMORROW: Forgetfulness (PLUS: Recalling TOTAL RECALL)

Jan 09 - All Points Bulletin

Sunday, January 9, 1972
LOCATION: Bethlehem, South Dakota

4:30 PM
Last night we went cave crawling where I got very muddy, and acquainted myself with the local folk. Before that, Matt and I set up his stereo equipment in a cabin. I slept in one of the rooms in Tom's, etc's, cabin -- that's where Matt & I will be staying. I left the cave before Matt, leaving with Tom, Penny, Mary, and someone else. I got to bed at about 11:30, and Matt got back at about 1:00 A.M. I got up this morning at around 8:30 when Matt came in to change clothes -- he's slept in the retreat house or somewhere.

We had breakfast at 9:30 (oat meal & scrambled eggs), then threw around paper airplanes for awhile. I got to work stripping the insulation from the wire I'd use on the tire chains while the gang in the retreat house sat around and listened to Brad play the guitar.

Mass broke things up at 11:30 A.M., during which I went to the cabin, listened to the stereo, and finished stripping the wire. Since I didn't have the keys to the car, I went to my room to do the writing I had to do (diary & Latka letter) -- but Tom arrived, and I went to see Matt. Father Gilbert talked with us, and we found out there is an All Points Bulletin out on the car, and we are truant [The APB means that any police officer in the US could arrest me, anywhere at any time, for car theft. I was a "wanted man," but luckily nobody thought of looking for me in the mountains of South Dakota].

Matt's parents have contacted mine (via Meg), and they all know where we are, we have their consent, and everything's fine, except for the police. Matt's mother is going to try to get that taken care of, but there are definitely going to be some legal problems involved.

We can stay here as long as we want, so we'll pro'ly be here a month or more. 'S alright -- I think I'll like it.